England top France 6-4 in thriller, avoid another shocking World Cup collapse: Kylian Mbappe sets goal record

England defeated France 6-4 in a high-scoring match to secure third place in the 2026 World Cup. The event, identified by CNN as the Bronze Final, saw England outperform France in what CBS Sports described as a thriller. According to AP News, the lineup for the third-place match featured Kylian Mbappé starting for France, while England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham remained on the sidelines. The final score of 6-4 indicates a highly offensive game, with ESPN providing a detailed game analysis of the result. Coverage from multiple outlets focuses heavily on the individual achievement of Kylian Mbappé despite the team's loss.

Yahoo Sports reports that Mbappé has become the all-time leading World Cup goal scorer of all time. The specific milestone is detailed by dw.com, which notes that Mbappé set this scoring record by reaching a total of 22 goals. The New York Times emphasizes that while this specific World Cup may not belong to the French player, the tournament served to cement his overall greatness in the sport. This result is framed by CBS Sports as a critical moment for England, noting that the victory allowed the team to avoid another shocking World Cup collapse. The context suggests a history of unexpected exits for the English squad, making this specific win over France significant for the team's standing and morale.

The match functioned as the final ranking game for the two nations, ensuring England finished above France in the tournament standings after a volatile contest. Following this match, the primary focus remains on the historical statistics established by Mbappé. Since the Bronze Final has concluded and the scoring record has been set at 22 goals, observers will look to how this benchmark influences the legacy of the tournament. Coverage does not specify further matches for these teams, as the results of the third-place match effectively conclude their participation in the current World Cup cycle.